BRIEFLY

Autos

U.S. Set to Become Biggest Vehicle Producer: The United States will regain its position as the world's biggest vehicle producer next year, surpassing Japan for the first time in 13 years, according to an Automotive News report. This year, the Americans have about caught up with the Japanese in production. U.S. plants will turn out 10.7 million cars and trucks in the production year that ends this week, up from 9.8 million last year. Japanese car makers are expected to build 11.1 million vehicles this year, down from 12.5 million in 1992, according to Automotive News. But production in the United States will increase about 4.6% to about 11.2 million units next year, while Japan will see production slip to about 11 million units.